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British Shows I’m Watching to Fill a Who-Shaped Hole

If you haven’t heard already, there are big changes happening in the Doctor Who world. The show’s intrepid leader (love him or hate him), Steven Moffat is leaving and turning the show over to Chris Chibnall, Peter Capaldi will likely end his run as Twelve after season 10 of the show, and to top it all off, we’re not going to get the tenth season of Doctor Who until 2017. You heard me right, the only new Who we’ll get in 2016 is a Christmasspecial.

Who knew that the biggest heartbreak of all wouldn’t be a Doctor regenerating, it would instead be a year-long silence from our favorite Time Lord…

So what the heck am I supposed to watch without any Doctor Who in my life? To make matters worse, Doctor Who has been pulled from every streaming service so I can’t even watch old episodes. I’ve heard rumors that it’s to prepare for the launch of a BBC streaming service, but come on, you guys. How many streaming services am I expected to buy??? I mean, come on, Netflix and BBC!

The sudden but inevitable betrayal of Netflix and the BBC aside, the fact remains that I need to fill the TARDIS-shaped hole in my life. So I’m significantly upping the British television in my life to show myself and the cable and streaming service powers that be that I’m an independent woman and I don’t need no Time Lord.

So here are the shows I’ll be watching/re-watching this year to distract myself from the dull ache of missing the Doctor.

Shows I’m Re-Watching

Being Human UK

This show isn’t terribly related to Doctor Who thematically with the exception of being a bit weird and having a bit of a wibbly-wobbly time line at times (especially in the later seasons). However, like many BBC shows, there are several actors in the show who’ve been on Who–like Russel Tovey, Lenora Crichlow, and Sinead Keenan–so it’s close enough.

The IT Crowd

I’ve watched this entire show several times through, but I just love it so much. It’s hilarious and never ceases to brighten my mood after a bad day. Besides, since it doesn’t have a real season or series-long story arc, it’s easy to watch episodes here and there. It’s a good one to watch if you want to go on a Netflix binge–it’s hilarious and tons of fun–but the lack of a Big Story makes it one to watch if you’re trying to not go on a proper binge.

New Shows I’m Watching

Peaky Blinders

This has been on my to-watch list for some time, and I’ve heard from several people I trust that the show is great. Plus, I love Cillian Murphy so much. Ever since he ran around London running from the Infected, I’ve been obsessed with stuff he’s in. With a gripping actor like Murphy, plus a story set in 1920s England, I’m sure to be hooked quickly.

The Fall

I don’t know much about this show, if I’m honest, but I do know two things: it’s a mind-bending show about a detective trying to catch a serial killer, and Gillian Anderson is in it. Sold.

Black Mirror

This show is supposed to be hella creepy, and I’m all about that. It’s set in a not-too-distant future, and it shows a world that has taken some seriously dark turns thanks to society’s relationship with technology. I’ve heard this show called a horror show with dark humor with Twilight Zone vibes. That plus familiar faces (it’s the BBC–what do you expect) like Domhnall Gleeson and Leonora Crichlow pop up for extra fun.

Black Books

As somebody who’s job relies on books and bookstores, I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for any show set in a publishing office or bookshop. Black Books is a show about a small bookshop and the two guys who run the shop (and their friend who used to work next door). I’ve already watched a few episodes of this show, and it’s hilarious and ridiculous. Since a lot of the shows on my list are heavy, it’s good to have something lighthearted, right? I’ve also been told Inbetweeners and Peep Show are good ones to add, but I haven’t decided on those two just yet.

And One American Show For Good Measure:

Legends of Tomorrow

This one’s a no-brainer to add. It stars Rory Pond Arthur Darvill, and is essentially a superhero version of Doctor Who. Darvill’s character, Rip Hunter, is a Time Master (seriously), he talks frequently about how time isn’t linear (is it wibbly-wobbly, perhaps?), harps on the importance of protecting the timeline (fixed points in time, you mean?), and he ran away from the Time Masters with one of their time machines–though this time machine has a functioning cloaking device, and it doesn’t make a wheezing sound when it lands. And, if that wasn’t enough, the crew of Legends also made Arthur a makeshift Dalek. I know that this isn’t a Doctor Who AU, but since they’re making me wait a YEAR for more Who, I’ve got to get my Whovian fix wherever I can get it.

What shows are you watching while you wait for more Doctor Who? Any suggestions of good British shows I should add to my watch list? Let me know in the comments!

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16 thoughts on “British Shows I’m Watching to Fill a Who-Shaped Hole”

Yes, its going to seem like a long wait until the new Doctor Who series. I was surprised to see Doctor Who pulled from Netflix ect for the US, which is a great shame. It looks like you’ve got lots of ideas and TV shows to watch to see you through. Might I make a recommendation for you? How about a great old UK Sci-Fi show called Sapphire and Steel. They only ever did six adventures, a mix of 6 parters and 4 parters, but if you get a chance to see them on DVD they are great, kinda like a supernatural version of Dr Who. Well, like you I’ll be looking forward to the Dr Who Christmas special this year, and then season 10, and whatever Chris Chibnall has in store for season 11 and beyond 🙂

IT Crowd and Black Books are two of my favourite shows. Black Mirror was great to, mind blowing even – such a shame it was such a short series. Peaky Blinders is on my to-watch list. If you haven’t seen it, Luther is another brilliant British show, and it has Idris Elba in it *swoon*

I am so sad they are pulling it from Netflix…I’ve not yet started Capaldi’s seasons and now I’m not sure how I’ll see them! Poo.
The hubs and I just started Peaky Blinders this week and I’m already hooked. Despite it’s contrast to the times, I kind of adore the music. And Cillian Murphy is captivating. I definitely want to check out The Fall, and I must add Black Mirror to my list now too!

Ack! You definitely have to watch Capaldi! It took a bit for Capaldi to grow on me–he’s quite different from Smith–but I definitely love him now. I heard that the BBC streaming service that is launching will likely not have Who either, so I’m not sure what they expect us to do! Buy the seasons on Blu-Ray? LAME.

Right?? In the age of streaming, I know very few people who still bother buying seasons of shows. It’s such a pain. I can always buy the seasons to stream via my Prime account though so at least there’s that!

Black mirror is super creepy and weird, but also super good. I started watching Peaky Blinders with a friend and we finished it in a couple days lol. It’s kinda Sherlockian because there aren’t a ton of episodes and the breaks are taking forevvveeeerrrrr. But it’s really good, so we wait.

Cillian Murphey in Peaky Blinders which I can only watch after the little one has gone to bed. Gives me shivers! He is so scary and hot all at the same time. Really fantastic performance by him. If I was to bump into Thomas Shelby on the street, I’m not sure if I was melt into a puddle or run screaming back to America.

Ha! Yeah, he can definitely do scary well, can’t he? I just finished my re-watch of Being Human, so I’m trying to decide which one to jump into next from my list. I’m thinking Peaky Blinders, but I’m not sure!